At first glance you might think, “Better not go here.”
A new sign caught my eye on a recent bike ride through my favorite part of Albany, the old Willamette Neighborhood between the river and the Union Pacific and Portland & Western tracks.
“Private drive,” it said. “No trespassing.” All in capital letters.
It was odd to see it there, at the southwest corner of First Avenue and Burkhart Street. Odd, because Burkhart is a public city street. This is the way to go if you want to cross the railroad tracks on foot or on two wheels to reach Salem Avenue and points south.
It clearly wasn’t the city that posted the sign. I’m assuming it was somebody else, maybe a property owner on the corner or nearby.
Maybe it was meant as a gag. I don’t know what else it could be. In any case, it hasn’t kept me or the bike off that block of Burkhart Street.
And it has given me something to go on about here when I’ve been out of town and don’t have anything else. (hh)
On Oct. 11, 2025, I got off the bike to snap a couple of shots of the sign on the corner.
